Fishline bob



July 27, 1937. w, 5, GOERTZEN 2,088,201

FISHLINE BOB Filed June 10, 1935 fia- 1 1 20.3

INVENTOR.

William ,3? Goertzen BY 4685 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 21, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a fish line bob.

The object of my invention is to provide a hollow bob to receive an electric lamp, battery and switch to make and break the circuit and means 5 to remove the battery and lamp when either becomes deteriorated.

A further object of my invention is to arrange the switch mechanism operative by a jerk or pull on the line by a fish, at which instance the lamp is illuminated; it being understood that the bob thus arranged is preferably for night fishing.

A still further object of my invention is to construct the bob-in such a way, that the light rays are invisible from beneath so that the fish will be undisturbed, but visible to the fishermen as an indication of a prospective catch.

A still further. object of my invention is to provide an illuminating bob that is impervious to water so that the same may be submerged and 20 the rays of the lamp visible, and continuous under buoyancy of the bob against the pull of the fish. 1

These and other v objects will hereinafter be more fully explained,.r eference being had the accompanying drawing forming a part this specification and in which like characters will apply to like parts in the difierent views.

Referring to the drawing I, Fig. 1 is a side view of the bob, partly in section for convenience of illustration. 1

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bob, the line being removed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the diaph'ragm.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the diaphragm diametrically. Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the washer.

The invention herein disclosed, consists of a 40 hollow'bob comprising an upper shell portion I,

' hemispherical in form and of translucent material, and a lower frusto-conical shell portion 2, of opaque material, the said portions being Joined fluid tight as at A, the irustum end being open to receive a tubular housing 3, axially extending into the bob and made fluid tight where it enters as at B, the said tubular housing has a metal lining l, secured therein as a conductor for one side of the electric circuit, the said housing and lining 55 upper end of a battery I, the saidbattery is adapted to move longitudinally in the housing,

carrying the lamp therewith for described.

The lower end of the housing is threaded internally for a short distance to receive a plug 8, threadedly engaging therein, and being axially 5 apertured to receive a stem 9, slidable therein and also being depressed as at D, to receive a convex head l0, secured to the end of the stem, the other end of the stem is coiled as atE, so that a line ll, may extend into the coil and outward between the windings thereof, to frictionally retain the said line in; a set position, and a similar coil l2, secured to a stud I3, positioned on the top portion of the bob, the-last said coil engages the said line in like manner to the said coil E, and being so arranged, that portion-between the said coils may be slack'as indicated by the curvature F, the purpose 01' which is to permit reciprocating movement of the stem when tensioned by the bite of a fish.

Positioned between the inner end of the said plug 8 and the lower end of the metallic lining 4, is a metallic washer like element l4, and a flexible diaphragm l5, the latter having a marginal portion peripherally increased in thickness over that of its intermediate portion as shown in Fig. 4, and note that a pointed edge H, peripherally positioned is arranged for snug engagement with the inside wall of housing 3, by which means, when the said plug is screwed tightly thereon, the washer is brought to snug engagement with the said lining and is made fluid tight by virtue a purpose later of the flexing tendency of the diaphragm.

It will be understood that the said washer being opened centrally is means to permit flexing of the diaphragm therethrough, through the medium oi the convex headas tensioned by a spring l6, wound about the said stem seating on a shoulder arranged in the aperture of the plug, I while the other end engages against the hub ll, of the head, the said spring is to have a greater tension than that of the helical-spring, so that the lower end of the battery willbe spaced from the washer which is the closing means for the circuit between the battery and the lining; being so arranged that a jerk imposed upon the downward extending portion of the line, will carry the stem therewith, as lowering means for the battery to close the circuit for illumination! the lamp.

In Fig. 1, is shown the normal posltflm oi the battery as supported by the head and also'showing the flexed position of the diaphragm as means to break the electric circuit.

It will be understood that the said plug, diaphragm and washer u'e removable tor the purpose of r pla ing the battery or lamp, and such other modifications may be employed as lie within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a fish line bob. a hollow body comprising a translucent upper portion and an opaque lower portion, a tubular battery housing, a metal lining for the housing, the major portion of the housing being axially positioned in the hollow body, an electric lamp, a helical spring to carry the lamp positioned in the inner end of the tubular housing, a battery positioned in the housing to engage the lamp base, a plug to aim the outer end of the said tubular housing, a headed stem extending through the plug axial with the housing and slidable therein, a spring as inward tensioning means for the stem, to move the battery into contact with the lamp thus breaking the electric circuit, means to close the circuit when the stem is drawn outward, and a flexible diaphragm between the head of the stem and adjacent the battery as an insulator and fluid tight sealing means for the said tubular housing.

2. In a fish line bob oi the class described, consisting of a hollow body comprising a hemispherical translucent portion, and an opaque conical portion joined to the hemispherical portion fluid tight, a metal lined battery housing positioned in the hollow body with a minor portion oi its length outwardly extending from the l'rustum oi the conical portion and having a battery slidable therein, an apertured plug to close the outer end 0! the battery housing, a washer positioned in the housing adjacent the plug and in contact with the lining, a flexible diaphragm ct insulating material positioned between the inner end of the plug and the washer, a headed stem slidable in the plug so that the head thereof will enter the opening of the washer as it contacts the diaphragm, moving the battery from contact with the washer, an electric lamp and flexible means to retain the lamp in contact with the end of the battery when the same is moved to engagement with the washer, and means on the outer end of the stem to engage with a fishing line and like means on the upper end of the bob to engage with the line.

3. In a fish line bob of the class described, comprising a hollow body, one portion of the body being translucent, the other opaque, a tubular housing of insulation material and a metal lining therefor to receive a battery slidable therein, the housing being positioned axially in the said body element and being fluid tight, a spring positioned in one end of the housing as moving means for the battery toward the other end of the housing, and a lamp carried by the spring in contact with the battery, a washer element with which the battery engages, a spring, a stem on which the spring is wound, means to insulate the stem when in contact with the other end of the battery, the last named spring to overpower the first named spring moving the battery, a plug secured to the end of the housing opposite the lamp in which the stem slidably engages, from contact with the washer to break the lamp circuit and to close the circuit when the stem is drawn outward by a fishing line and means to attach the line adjustably to the stem.

4. In a fish line bob of the class described, a hollow conical bob, one end portion being oi translucent material, the other end portion opaque, a housing for a battery inserted into the bob at the opaque end, a lamp positioned on the inner end of the said housing and a spring to carry the lamp and to move the battery toward the other end of the housing, a contact in the other end with which the battery engages, and means to connect the said contact with the lamp, and a spring actuated stem to overcome the power of the lamp spring and to move the battery from the said contact, breaking the battery circuit and to close the circuit by an outward pull of the stem, substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM S. GOER'IZEN. 

